College Football Week 6 Picks: UCLA Bruins vs. Utah Utes

The Utah Utes are 6-2 when coming off a regular-season bye under Kyle Whittingham

UCLA is 3-0 SUATS to start the 2013 campaign, as it comes off a bye week after picking up a 59-13 victory over New Mexico State as 44-point home favorites on Sept. 21, while winning the statistical battle by 173-plus years in each of those contests. The Bruins hold a 9-2 all-time advantage in this series, but both losses have come in Salt Lake City, which can’t be ignored when making your college football betting picks Thursday night. Offensively, the team paces the nation in third down conversion percentage, while sitting second in racking up 614.3 yards per game of offense. UCLA is 3-1 SU and 2-2 ATS as road favorites the last two-plus seasons, with the OVER going 3-1 in that situation.

The Bruins are aiming to win their first four games of the season for the first time since 2005, while improving second-year head coach Jim Mora to 6-2 in true road contests. In the second half of games this season, UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley has completed 26 of 33 passes for 369 yards and five touchdowns with one interception. The team has been at its best in the third quarter—outscoring foes by a 62-0 margin in that situation. Defensively, the aim is to limit this week’s opponent to under 100 rushing yards, as the program has won 12 of its last 13 games when accomplishing that task.

Utah returns to Pac-12 Conference play, as it also enjoyed time off after a 20-13 victory over in-state rival BYU as seven-point road underdogs on Sept. 21, while going UNDER the betting total of 61.5. The Utes are 6-2 when coming off a regular-season bye under Kyle Whittingham, with both losses coming against conference foes. Since joining the Pac-12 in 2011, the program is 0-3 against ranked opponents, which is important to consider when looking over the college football odds page. Utah is 6-7 SU and 8-5 ATS as underdogs the last two-plus seasons, with the UNDER going 7-4-2 in that situation.

The Utes are led offensively by sophomore quarterback Travis Wilson, who completed 24 of 35 passes for 273 yards and two touchdowns against the Cougars. He is also the school’s second-leading rusher this season, with 32 carries for 251 yards and five touchdowns. Sophomore running Bubba Poole leads the way in that particular category, with 58 carries and averaging 76.0 rushing yards per game.

Sports bettors will likely back the Utes due to their 9-3 ATS mark following a bye week.

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